Family therapy and counseling in Kalamazoo, MI

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, I believe that therapy is your space, shaped by what you need right now.

With 13+ years of experience in community mental health, residential treatment, and inpatient psychiatry, I provide therapy and parent coaching to:

• Children (5 years and older) & Families
• Young Adults & Adults
• Parents & Caregivers

I work alongside individuals navigating hard moments—especially those who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or powerless. Often, the people I work with are themselves experiencing or have a loved one impacted by:

• major life stress or conflict at home or school/work
• trauma
• grief and loss
• depression
• anxiety
• psychosis
• mania
• substance use

You are the expert on your own life and your own healing. My role is to meet you where you are and walk with you on your path, sometimes guiding, sometimes following, but mostly walking side-by-side.

I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor and the founder of Circle of Life Wellness Services, where I provide compassionate, whole-person care for adults and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, and life transitions. My work focuses on supporting people through emotional overwhelm, identity shifts, relationship changes, and the many adjustments that come with different seasons of life.

I have a special interest in women’s mental health and maternal mental health, including pregnancy, postpartum adjustments, caregiving stress, burnout, and balancing personal needs with family, relationships and professional responsibilities. I also support clients coping with grief and loss, life changes, and feeling “stuck” or disconnected from themselves.

At Circle of Life, I believe healing happens when you feel safe, supported, and seen. My goal is to walk alongside you as you move toward balance, clarity, and emotional wellness—at your own pace.

Welcome—I’m glad you’re here. Choosing to seek support is an act of courage, and your future self will thank you for showing yourself kindness today. My name is Renee. I graduated from University of Southern California School of Social Work in 2014. I specialize in working with individuals carrying the weight of significant trauma, addictions, unresolved grief, and painful life experiences that can feel isolating or overwhelming. I support those who struggle with trust after unhealthy relationships, major life transitions, or who have turned to alcohol or other substances to cope with emotional pain.

I also work with individuals healing from addiction, substance use, and mental health challenges, and I have experience supporting military families as they navigate the unique barriers of having a loved one in the military, as well as serving Veterans. My goal is to offer a supportive space for healing, connection, and meaningful change.

Before becoming a counselor, I worked as a deputy sheriff, firefighter, EMT, 911 dispatcher, and U.S. Navy Reserve member. That background shapes how I show up in sessions: direct, practical, and without judgment. I pursued counseling because I found I was genuinely good at helping people feel better, and I work with clients navigating anxiety, depression, relationships, grief, and difficult life decisions. If you have been waiting to talk to someone, I am glad you are here.

I began my career working with children and quickly expanded my expertise to include adults and couples. Throughout my 26 years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I have seen the incredible power of the human spirit to overcome trauma and unexpected life struggles. Watching my clients transition from "surviving" to "thriving" remains the most inspiring part of my work.

I've been a listener my whole life — since I was a teenager, long before I had any clinical training, I learned that the most powerful thing one person can do for another is to genuinely pay attention. That hasn't changed. What has changed is that now I have the tools, training, and experience to help that attention lead somewhere. I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Michigan. I work with individuals, families, couples, and children — and I see clients across the state through telehealth. I'm trained in a range of approaches including CBT, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Bowen Family Systems, which means I can adapt to what actually fits you — not just apply a template. I'm also comfortable holding faith and spirituality as part of your story if that's relevant for you. I'm not a "Christian therapist" in a prescriptive sense, but I've spent years working as a chaplain and I understand how much a person's spiritual framework shapes how they see themselves and the world. That's a welcome part of the conversation here.